Thermocouple lance handling device

ABSTRACT

A thermocouple lance for measuring the temperature of molten metal in a vessel is mounted on a carriage which moves on tracks longitudinally of a carriage support which is external to the vessel. The carriage support is normally clamped at an acute angle with respect to vertical but it may be released and swung on a pivot to a vertical position sidewise of the vessel. A hoist is provided for retracting the carriage supported lance away from and out of the vessel. An air operated cylinder swings the carriage support away from the vessel and, after removal of some guide rollers, the carriage and lance may be withdrawn from the support and lowered on the hoist cable for maintenance or replacement at floor level.

United States Patent [1 1 Sczerba 1 July 3, 1973 THERMOCOUPLE LANCE HANDLING DEVICE Inventor:

Stanley T. Sczerba, McKeesport, Pa.

Pennsylvania Engineering Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Filed: July 22, 1971 Appl. No.: 165,019

Assignee:

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1969 Berger 266/34 LM 3,276,759 10/1966 Kardos 266/35 3,007,691 1 H1961 Rinesch 266/34 LM FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,028,998 5/1966 Great Britain 73/343 R Primary Examiner-Richard C. Queisser Assistant Examiner-Denis E. Corr Attorney-Wiviott & I-Iohenfeldt 7 ABSTRACT A thermocouple lance for measuring the temperature of molten metal in a vessel is mounted on a carriage which moves on tracks longitudinally of a carriage support which is external to the vessel. The carriage support is normally clamped at an acute angle with respect to vertical but it may be released and swung on a pivot to a vertical position sidewise of the vessel. A hoist is provided for retracting the carriage supported lance away from and out of the vessel. An air operated cylinder swings the carriage support away from the vessel and, after removal of some guide rollers, the carriage and lance may be withdrawn from the support and lowered on the hoist cable for maintenance or replacement at floor level.

9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 1 THERMOCOUPLE LANCE HANDLING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A well-known type of basic oxygen furnace for converting impure ferrous metal to steel introduces an oxygen lance through the top of the furnace or vessel for injecting oxygen into the melt to purify it and effectuate an exothermic reaction which raises its temperature to a level that is suitable for pouring. Top blown basic oxygen furnaces of this type require very high headroom in the building to accommodate the oxygen lance and its carriage since these lances are often as much as 70 feet long.

Bottom blown oxygen utilizing converter vessels, on the other hand, do not require very great headroom because an oxygen lance is not used and no space is needed, therefore, to accommodate one. The bottom blown steel making vessels thus permit a considerable reduction in the size and cost of the building.

In connection with either of the above-discussed oxygen steel making processes it is necessary to measure the temperature of the melt for determining when the exothermic reaction is complete and the melt is ready to pour. This is usually done by lowering a thermocouple into the melt through the top of the vessel. The thermocouple is usually positioned on the end of a long water-cooled lance which is lowered into the vessel by means of a hoist. In the top blown type of oxygen steel making vessel, the center of melt was occupied by the oxygen lance and the thermocouple had to be positioned on the side. This is undesirable from the viewpoint of measuring a temperature which is representative of the temperature of the entire melt. The thermocouple lance and the hoist for handling it, of course, were easily accommodated in the vast space which must necessarily be available in the building above top blown basic oxygen furnaces. It is thus easy to raise the thermocouple lance a great distance and swing it clear of all obstructions for lowering it to the floor for maintenance or replacement. However, with bottom blown furnaces or oxygen converter vessels, the high headroom requirements of an oxygen lance are obviated in which case there is not the usual amount of space available for accommodating the thermocouple lance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a thermocouple lance handling device which does not require high headroom and which is adapted for advancing and retracting a thermocouple lance into a molten metal vessel.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device which enables positioning of the temperature sensitive part of the thermocouple lance at the center of the molten metal pool within a vessel.

A further object is to provide a lance handling device which permits easy removal of the lance and convenient maintenance of the same at floor level.

A more specific object is to adapt a thermocouple lance for moving telescopically on a carriage within a carriage support that can be released for swinging sidewise of the vessel when it is desired to lower the lance for maintenance.

How the foregoing and other more specific objects are achieved will appear from time to time throughout the course of a more detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention which will be set forth hereafter.

In general terms, the invention involves supporting a water-cooled thermocouple lance on a carriage which telescopes within an elongated overhead carriage support that is disposed at an acute angle with respect to vertical toward a molten metal converter vessel. The cable of a hoist extends through the carriage support and engages the carriage for lifting it. The lance may be lowered in the carriage support under the influence of gravity. The angularly directed carriage support is normally clamped. It is only necessary to retract the lance and release the carriage support for being swung sidewise to a vertical positon by means of an air operated cylinder when it is desired to lower the lance for maintenance. Means are provided for permitting easy withdrawal of the entire lance assembly from the carriage support.

A description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention will now be set forth in reference to the drawlng.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the new lance handling device affiliated with a bottom blown type of basic oxygen steel making converter vessel which is shown in cross section;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view of the left side of part of the structure shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the structure shown in FIG. 1, with parts broken away.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows a converter vessel 10 which has oxygen blown from the bottom for converting molten impure ferrous metal to steel. The vessel has a metal shell 11 and a refractory lining 12. At the bottom of the vessel there are several tuyeres 13 which admit oxygen from a header 14 that is supplied with oxygen under pressure from a pipe 15. Vessel 10 has a pair of trunnions l6 and 17 for tilting it to pour molten metal therefrom. The trunnion bearings and their supports are not shown. The lower end of the vessel extends into a pit below the level of the charging floor 18 in the building. Vessel 10 is charged with impure molten metal up to about the level of the charging floor 18. Oxygen is then blown through tuyeres l3 and the resulting exothermic reaction of the melt in the vessel oxidizes carbon and other impurities and converts them to gases which are discharged through the upper mouth of the vessel. This reaction raises the temperature of the melt. The temperature profile indicates the extent to which the reaction has proceeded and it is the temperature which is used as one criteria that the melt is adequately refined and ready for pouring.

When vessel 10 is upright and processing a melt it is connected with an exhaust duct 21 which is encircled by water-cooled hood 22. A duct 23 is connected with an additive holding hopper 24. The exhaust duct 21 and hopper 24 and other mechanism which is to be described, may be supported from the buiding structural members such as I-beams 2528. The structure thus far described is substantially conventional.

Extending into vessel 10 at an acute angle with respect to vertical is a thermocouple lance which is generally designated by the reference numeral 31. The tip 32 oflance 31 is the active temperature measuring part and it extends into the vessel below the top surface of the melt. The electrical conductors for the thermocouple element in tip 32 extend upwardly through an insulated passageway, not shown, in the center of lance 31. Lance 31 is jacketed and cooling water flows through its interior to preclude melting within the vessel. The cooling water hoses and their connections are not shown but it will be understood that the hoses connect to a carriage 33 to which thermocouple lance 31 is coupled. The electrical cable running from a temperature indicating instrument, not shown, to the active element in thermocouple tip 32 also connects to a carriage 33 but is omitted from the drawing for the sake of clarity.

Lance 31 is admitted angularly into vessel through a guide box 34 which is attached to exhaust duct 21 and is cooled by hood 22. Guide box 34 is equipped with rollers such as 35 and 36 for guiding and stabilizing lance 31. Rollers 35 and 36 preferably have a grooved periphery.

Carriage 33 and its affiliated thermocouple lance 31 is adapted for being moved bilaterally and longitudinally within a swingable support which is generally designated by the reference numeral 37. There are several inverted V-shaped tracks such as 38 and 39 interiorly of and coextensive with swingable support 37. These tracks may be angle-irons which have their corners faced inwardly of support 37. Lance carriage 33 is equipped with pairs of rollers such as 41 and 42 which run on tracks 38 and 39. Rollers 41 and 42 each have a V-shaped peripheral groove. Swingable support 37 is normally secured at the acute vertical angle in which it is shown by a clamping member 43 which is affixed to one of the structural elements such as beam 25. The upper end of support 37 is supported on a pivot pin 45 which is journaled in stationary brackets 46. The pivot pin 45 need not be at the extreme upper end of support 37, it may be at almost any point intermediate the ends of support 37 just so it is possible to swing the support. When clamp 43 is released, support 37 may be swung to a vertical position in which it is represented by dashdot lines marked 37' in FIG. 1. Prior to swinging support 37, carriage 33 is drawn upwardly in support 37 on tracks 38 and 39 to withdraw thermocouple lance 31 from vessel 10. The lance tip 32 then extends a short distance outwardly of support 37 as indicated by the broken line representation marked 32' in FIG. 1.

Support 37 may be swung with any suitable mechanism such as a fluid operated cylinder 47 which is mounted on trunnions 48 for limited vertical swinging movement. Trunnions 48 are journaled in posts 49 which are supported on structural members such as beam 25. A piston rod 50 extending from cylinder 47 connects with a pivot pin 51. Pin 51 isjournaled in a bracket 52 which is fastened to swingable carriage support 37. Thus, when clamp 43 is released, support 37 may be swung to its vertical position under the influence of fluid operated cylinder 47, and it may also be returned to its angular position for reclamping by means of cylinder 47.

Carriage 33 and thermocouple lance 31 are retracted into swingable carriage support 37 by means of a hoist which is generally designated by the reference numeral 55. The hoist has a cable drum 56 and a cable 57 extends from the drum to and around a stationary sheave 58 and then down through support 37 where it attaches at 59 to thermocouple lance carriage 33. As can be seen in FIG. 3, hoist drum 56 connects to a shaft 60,

which is shown fragmentarily, by means of a coupling 61. Shaft 60 and, hence, hoist drum 56 is driven by motor, not shown, which is mounted on a suitable platform, not shown, behind the hoist. The motor shaft 60 may be driven through a clutch or brake, not shown, which is subject to being released for allowing the thermocouple carriage 33 and lance 31 to descend into vessel 10 under the influence of gravity. The hoist is used to retract the thermocouple lance into carriage 37 under motor power.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the upper stationary pulley 58 for changing the direction of cable 57 may be mounted in a housing 62 which extends above the sloped roof 63 of the building. This enables minimizing the overall height of the building and is consistent with one object of the invention which is to minimize headroom requirements for the apparatus.

The lower end of swingable carriage support 37 is provided with a removable roller assembly which includes rollers such as 64 and 65. When support 37 is swung to its vertical position, rollers 64 and 65 may be removed in which case carriage 33 may be allowed to descend out of support 37 on cable 57. This permits lowering thermocouple lance 31 and carriage 33 to the floor 18 for repair or replacement of the thermocouple. When the maintenance work is completed, hoist 56 is energized and carraige 33 is again hoisted into its support 37. Rollers 64 and 65 are then replaced and the carriage support 37 may be swung back to its angular position as shown and reclamped. Rollers 64 and 65 and additional similar rollers may'be mounted on arms, not shown, which may be unlatched and swung out of the way so that carriage 33 can be withdrawn from support 37 or a set of rollers may be mounted on a frame, not shown, which can be unbolted and removed bodily to allow withdrawal of the carriage and the lance.

In summary, a low headroom'thermocouple lance handling device has been described. The lance is supported on a carriage which is advanceable and retractable with respect to a swingable track support. The support is normally clamped at an angle with respect to vertical so that the active tip of the thermocouple lance is positioned essentially centrally within the melting vessel. The lance may be removed from its support and lowered to the floor easily for maintenance purposes.

Those skilled in the metal processing art will appreciate that, although a new lance handling device has been described in reference 'to a thermocouple lance, its structural and functional features are equally applicable to handling an oxygen lance in connection with a top blown basic oxygen furnace as well.

It will also be apparent that the thermocouple lance does not necessarily require use of a roller carriage as a means of translating the lance for rollers or other suitable sliding members can be attached directly to the lance and the cooling water hoses may be attached with suitable adapters to the end of the lance itself. In addition, the lance can be provided with longitudinally extending tracks which run on a series of rollers mounted in the swinging support conversely to the arrangement in the preferred embodiment.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been described, such description is intended to be illustrative rather than limiting, for the invention may be variously embodied and is to be limited only by interpretation of the claims which follow.

' I claim:

l. A device for handling a process parameter samvessel occupied space, said support means being pling probe means which is advanceable and retractlocated generally above said vessel space, able in respect to a molten metal vessel, said device b. pivot means supporting said support means for secomprising: lective pivotal movement in a substantially vertical a. a support means mounted generally above said ves- 5 plane between a first generally downwardly attisel, tude, wherein said support means is at an angle b. an elongated probe means for supporting a molten with respect to vertical when directed at said vesmetal process parameter sampling means, said sel, and a second generally downwardly attitude probe means being supported on said support wherein said support means is directed clear of said means for longitudinal movement toward and away 10 vessel, from said vessel, c. means for translating bidirectionally on said supc. means for selectively swinging said support means port means,

through a substantially vertical angle between a d. thermocouple lance means supported on said first position in which said elongated probe is ditranslatable means for being advanced toward said rected generally downwardly toward said vessel t l5 vessel and for being retracted toward said second a second position in which said probe is directed end of the support means, and generally downwardly toward a point adjacent said e. means normally restraining said support means in vessel, its first position. d. means operatively connected with said probe 5. The invention set forth in claim 4 wherein:

means for moving said probe means selectively in a. said pivot means for said support means is near a generally upward and downward direction wheresaid second end of the support means. upon said condition sampling means may be moved 6. The invention set forth in claim 4 including: into and out of said vessel when said support means a. fluid operated cylinder means operatively coupled is in its first position and may be lowered to a posiwith said support means for swinging the same betion adjacentsaid vessel when said support means tween its first and second positions. is in its second position.- 7. The invention set forth in claim 4 including: 2. The invention set forth in claim 1 including: a. guide roller means mounted near said vessel proxia. guide means mounted on said support means at an mate end on said support means, said guide roller end that is normally proximate with said vessel, means normally cooperating with said lance means said guide means being normally operatively enand said translatable means to direct said lance gaged with said probe means and being separable means at said vessel and said roller means being refrom said support means to allow said probe means movable to release said lance means from said supto be translated longitudinally from said support port means. means under the control of said probe moving 8. The invention set forth in claim 4 including: means. a. other guide means slidably engageable with said 3. The invention set forth in claim 1 including: thermocouple lance means, said other guide means a. releasable restraining means for maintaining said being fixedly mounted intermediate said first end support means in said first position, and of said support means and said vessel occupied b means operatively coupledto said support means space to further guide said lance means at an angle for swinging the same between its first and second 40 relative to'vertical into and out of said vessel. positions when said restraining means is released. 9. The invention set forth in claim 4 including: 4. A device for handling a thermocouple lance with a. a fixedly mounted hoist means including a cable respect to a molten metal vessel, said device comprisdrum, ing: b. a cable extending from said drum and attached to a. an elongated support means which has a first end said translatable means for raising and lowering the in proximity with the space that is occupied by said same. vessel and a second end which is remote from said v} TED STA s PATENT @FFIQE CERTIFICATE CEUHQN Patent No. 3, 742, 763 Dat d JULY 3, 1973 Imventofls) STANLEY T. SCZERBA It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In Claim 1, column 5, line 22, delete "condition".

Signed and sealed this 19th day of February 19714..

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,J'R. c. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents F ORM P04 050 (10-69) USCOMM-DC come-poo u.s. covzmmzm' PRINTING onlcz "d8 o-na-su,

I TED STATES mm @FMCE CERTIFICATE 0F QEQMQN Patent No. 3,742,763 Dated JULY 3, 1973 I "Inventor-(s) STANLEY T. SCZERBA It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:.

In Claim 1, column 5, line 22, delete condition".

Signed and sealed this 19th day of February 197M.

(SEAL) Attest: I v

EDWARD M .FLETCHER J'R C MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer (j mmissloner of Patents FORM PO-1050 (10- uscoMM-Dc uoa1e-poo I i U}. GOVERNMENT HUNTING OFFICE: "69 O-Qfil-SSL 

1. A device for handling a process parameter sampling probe means which is advanceable and retractable in respect to a molten metal vessel, said device comprising: a. a support means mounted generally above said vessel, b. an elongated probe means for supporting a molten metal process parameter sampling means, said probe means being supported on said support means for longitudinal movement toward and away from said vessel, c. means for selectively swinging said support means through a substantially vertical angle between a first position in which said elongated probe is directed generally downwardly toward said vessel to a second position in which said probe is directed generally downwardly toward a point adjacent said vessel, d. means operatively connected with said probe means for moving said probe means selectively in a generally upward and downward direction whereupon said condition sampling means may be moved into and out of said vessel when said support means is in its first position and may be lowered to a position adjacent said vessel when said support means is in its second position.
 2. The invention set forth in claim 1 including: a. guide means mounted on said support means at an end Hat is normally proximate with said vessel, said guide means being normally operatively engaged with said probe means and being separable from said support means to allow said probe means to be translated longitudinally from said support means under the control of said probe moving means.
 3. The invention set forth in claim 1 including: a. releasable restraining means for maintaining said support means in said first position, and b. means operatively coupled to said support means for swinging the same between its first and second positions when said restraining means is released.
 4. A device for handling a thermocouple lance with respect to a molten metal vessel, said device comprising: a. an elongated support means which has a first end in proximity with the space that is occupied by said vessel and a second end which is remote from said vessel occupied space, said support means being located generally above said vessel space, b. pivot means supporting said support means for selective pivotal movement in a substantially vertical plane between a first generally downwardly attitude, wherein said support means is at an angle with respect to vertical when directed at said vessel, and a second generally downwardly attitude wherein said support means is directed clear of said vessel, c. means for translating bidirectionally on said support means, d. thermocouple lance means supported on said translatable means for being advanced toward said vessel and for being retracted toward said second end of the support means, and e. means normally restraining said support means in its first position.
 5. The invention set forth in claim 4 wherein: a. said pivot means for said support means is near said second end of the support means.
 6. The invention set forth in claim 4 including: a. fluid operated cylinder means operatively coupled with said support means for swinging the same between its first and second positions.
 7. The invention set forth in claim 4 including: a. guide roller means mounted near said vessel proximate end on said support means, said guide roller means normally cooperating with said lance means and said translatable means to direct said lance means at said vessel and said roller means being removable to release said lance means from said support means.
 8. The invention set forth in claim 4 including: a. other guide means slidably engageable with said thermocouple lance means, said other guide means being fixedly mounted intermediate said first end of said support means and said vessel occupied space to further guide said lance means at an angle relative to vertical into and out of said vessel.
 9. The invention set forth in claim 4 including: a. a fixedly mounted hoist means including a cable drum, b. a cable extending from said drum and attached to said translatable means for raising and lowering the same. 